Benicio Del Toro has signed on and Halle Berry is in negotiations to star in DreamWorks' drama "Things We Lost in the Fire" reports the trades.

The story centers on a woman (Berry) whose husband suddenly dies. She invites her husband's troubled best friend (Del Toro) to live with her family, and as the friend turns his life around, he helps the grief-stricken family confront their loss.

Danish helmer Susanne Bier ("Open Hearts") will direct and Allen Loeb penned the screenplay. Bier's "Open Hearts" is being remade at Paramount with Zach Braff helming.